Check out this New Yorker article by Richard Brody about Godard, Pennebaker & Leacock in the late 60's One P.M. All Day
Recommended Documentaries
Recommended Docs
This is a topic where you can say which documentary has really impressed you, and why people should see it. Can be a recent one or an all-time favourite. Can't be your own though, sorry...
Praise the work of others, not your own. If you want to beat the drum for your own documentary, please don't do it here. Professionals have their own Shameless Self-Promotion topic.
We also have a Documentary Films topic for our Professionals where the debate is private and possibly more controversial. This topic here is for recommendations to the documentary-interested public.
Re: Jason Boone's post on Sat 13 Oct 2012: View thread
For those of us who enjoy the work of Ken Burns, "City of Gold" was the film that deeply inspired him in his youth as to how still images could be fully incorporated into the documentary genre.
This film is what inspired Ken Burns to incorporate what came to be known as the "Ken Burns Effect" so extensively in his work.
Thu 7 Feb 2013
Edited Thu 7 Feb 2013 by Matt Dubuque
I agree Summers, it was a revelation to stumble across this pioneering film, which still has some of the finest examples of the technique I have seen. A real master class.
Those are two great exemplars you mentioned. And it's interesting how at 13:15 it's a jump cut to the wide shot in its entirety, which is done very well.
And John is correct. The entire catalogue of the National Film Board of Canada is really quite a treasure trove of free clinics with the masters.
Thu 7 Feb 2013
Edited Thu 7 Feb 2013 by Nick Higgins
That was really great- thanks for posting it. What a gem having that old guy nattering with his mates with a saw in his hand. I love the shooting that they did up there in 1958 and plan on channeling it.
Thu 7 Feb 2013
Edited Thu 7 Feb 2013 by Matt Dubuque
Re: Jason Osder's post on Thu 7 Feb 2013: View thread
Beautiful film!
Also available here in a higher rez version.....
http://www.nfb.ca/film/paul_tomkowicz_street_railway_switchman
What a treasure trove. I enjoyed the switchman too. And this one about Paul Anka by the same guy that made City of Gold Wolf Koenig http://www.nfb.ca/film/lonely_boy
They are all shot so well, super solid and they hold their shots forever which has to be every editors dream and a great reminder to do the same.